Please note that this publication has been updated and is available to download.

Working Together sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004.

Part 1 of the document is issued as statutory guidance. Practitioners and agencies will have different responsibilities under different areas of the guidance and should consult the preface for a fuller explanation of their statutory duties.

CHANGE TO STATUTORY GUIDANCE:

On 10 June, Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families announced a change to the statutory guidance set out in Chapter 8 of this document relating to Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). Local Safeguarding Boards should publish overview reports of all new SCRs initiated on or after 10 June 2010, together with the executive summary; neither document should contain identifying details.

Working Together is addressed to practitioners and front line managers who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and to senior and operational managers. Part 2 of the document is issued as non-statutory practice guidance.

Includes:

Introduction: working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and families

Roles and responsibilities

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Training, development and supervision for inter-agency working

Managing individual cases where there are concerns about a child’s safety and welfare

Supplementary guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children